Pan-dem duo get back to basics in Legco race

Two pro-democracy candidates for the Legislative Council race plan to sign a declaration form to uphold the Basic Law as they announced their bids yesterday.

Software engineer Wong Ho-wa, 33, will stand in the IT constituency and architect Kwan Siu-lun, 39, in the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector in the September 6 polls.

Both cast themselves as moderates saying they have not decided on whether to veto the budget and base their decision on public opinion and whether it would benefit Hongkongers.

The pro-democracy camp has been hoping to gain an unprecedented majority in the Legco polls to force Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to agree to the protesters' five demands by threatening to veto the 2020-2021 budget next February.

Wong said he would sign the declaration provided by the Electoral Affairs Commission promising to uphold the Basic Law.

"I will decide whether to veto the budget based on public opinion, and I will be signing the declaration, as I want to walk with fellow Hongkongers," he said.

Wong also said he has protested the enactment of Basic Law Article 23 since demonstrations in 2003 and hopes to use his expertise to monitor the government.

"After the implementation of the national security law, internet freedom in Hong Kong will be further contracted. It will become a huge disincentive to business investments if Hong Kong loses such freedoms, and will hugely impact the prospects of IT personnel," he said.

Wong is a member of the chief executive election committee representing the IT sector and also the founder of a website to gathering information on the anti-fugitive bill movement, lawmakers' legislative performance, and the pro-democracy camp primaries.

Meanwhile, Kwan also stopped short of promising to veto the budget but said he would sign the declaration and vote on the budget depending on its benefits to Hongkongers.

He will be challenging incumbent pro-establishment lawmaker Tony Tse Wai-chuen, who has held the seat since 2012.

Kwan criticized Tse for not respecting voters, as he did not consult the sector on controversial issues and had failed to monitor the government, leading to delays and cost overruns in multiple projects.

In response to a jump in the number of voters in the sector, Kwan said it remains unclear whether it is beneficial to his campaign.

"It is very hard to predict whom voters are going to vote for. Therefore, I do not think an increase in the number of voters means I have a better chance of winning the seat," Kwan said.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com